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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Am i wrong in feeling this way?

64 replies

Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 16:16

I've been with my partner for nearly 20 years, we are mid 30s and have 4 children age range 18 to 5. I feel a constant ache for more and to experience a connection with someone else, or just to feel at peace and not so stressed. Partner is selfish, he barely gives me any money, I'm lucky if he gives me £500 a month, I work part time he is a self employed builder so earns more than me. Although he does pay gor holidays and the odd takeaway when we have one but thats beside the point. I see to the children mostly, sort their things, appointments, he's never been to a parents evenings or school play/sports day, pick ups and drop offs is mostly me but he does if he's in the mood, most nights he goes to walk the dogs where he usually ends up at a quiet pub with his friends and I'm left to sort the washing up, the little one and pick my daughter up if shes been out with friends. When I go to work and am out the house for 13 hours I come home to barely anything done, he refuses to do any washing as he says hes not sorting through our dirty knickers, moams at me when i've not washed his work clothes, washing up is usually left, bathroom never cleaned, he says the elder children should do it, which I agree but so should he, and they will if they're told. He is emotionally unavailable, he's difficult to get a conversation out of him and has no sense of humour, I find I am not my true self with him as I feel stupid. Many many times over the years I have tried to talk to him about how I feel and tried to raise the issues I have but he doesnt listen, he becomes argumentative and turns things round on me and says I'm in a mood then we just go round in circles, we're fine for a bit then I get fed up and try to tell him his wrongs and how I feel etc but nothing works. I have no where to go so I cannot leave, no family only my grandparents and I certainly wouldnt mither them. I had a one night stand with someone we both know many years ago and he has never gotten over it, he cant understand why i did it, he was suicidal when he found out and still says now if he ever hears anything else he will kill himself and I feel he would feel this way if i did break it off completely and that worries me. He has his good points believe it or not, everyone I speak to say hes a good bloke, he's always been faithful, we do nice things together as a family, the sex is good and I've told him thats probably the only good thing going for us. I've had to have time off work due to stress and burnout with other things going on and couldn't cope with everything. I crave an emotional connection with someone else, I feel now I'm in my mid 30s I want to live and not waste my life feeling miserable and disrespected but I feel completely stuck and obviously dont know any different hence why I've put up with this for so long. Any advice/thoughts welcome, please be kind!

OP posts:
category12 · 20/07/2026 16:23

Sorry, are you paying all the bills and him just paying £500 of it?

Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 16:32

category12 · 20/07/2026 16:23

Sorry, are you paying all the bills and him just paying £500 of it?

Pretty much. When I ask him for money he says how much do u want, I dont get paid till such and such a day, I havent got much myself

OP posts:
PixelatedLunchbox · 20/07/2026 16:33

A few clarifying questions OP. What is your housing situation? Council house, renting, own your house/flat? Are you married?

Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 16:37

PixelatedLunchbox · 20/07/2026 16:33

A few clarifying questions OP. What is your housing situation? Council house, renting, own your house/flat? Are you married?

Not married. House is rented

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/07/2026 16:38

I would contact Womens Aid as you are in an abusive relationship with him. If you can go to Boots and ask for ANI (pronounced Annie) the staff will direct you to domestic abuse support services.

I note without much surprise he is threatening to kill himself if you were to leave. He could not give a shiny shit about you or his children even though he continues to wield and otherwise bang on about this one night stand you had. A one night stand that he has weaponised against you. It’s an empty threat to kill
himself but it is designed to keep you there. Its working because you remain there. He is a master manipulator and you’ve been played this entire time.

He is also financially abusive and I would readily assume you try and make ends meet at your own expense. When was the last time for instance you bought some new clothes for you, had a haircut, dental appointment or visited the optician?. It’s basically one rule for him ie he can do what he likes whilst another for you ie be his good domestic slave and live in the gilded cage of his own paranoid making.

It looks like you met him when you were very
young yourself and in a bad place. He’s played on your youth to his advantage and stole that from you. He targeted you deliberately to abuse you.

I would also think your kids cannot abide him at all given his attitude. All he cares about is him; not you and certainly not his children.

category12 · 20/07/2026 16:38

Oh OK, I can see what's in it for him in this relationship, £500 is probably like less than a third of household costs plus he gets everything done for him.

Not sure what you get out of it other than more work and being treated like crap.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/07/2026 16:39

Is the rental agreement in his sole name?. Not marrying you was a deliberate decision on his part also. Do your dc have his surname?

Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 16:40

Forgot to add. He moans at me if house is untidy if I've been out. He has no desire to make the improvements to the home or buy a house. He is happy to spend money on himself, lend money (hundreds) to his friends

OP posts:
category12 · 20/07/2026 16:41

He can afford to act the big man to his mates because you're subsidising him.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/07/2026 16:43

This is all typical of how an abusive man acts. He’s all sweetness and light to people in the outside world and likely appears to get quite plausible. It is behind closed doors that his true nature emerges.

You need to plan your exit from him with due care because your safety is of paramount importance.

Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 16:46

AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/07/2026 16:39

Is the rental agreement in his sole name?. Not marrying you was a deliberate decision on his part also. Do your dc have his surname?

Rental in both names. It was a mutual decision not to marry

OP posts:
Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 16:47

AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/07/2026 16:43

This is all typical of how an abusive man acts. He’s all sweetness and light to people in the outside world and likely appears to get quite plausible. It is behind closed doors that his true nature emerges.

You need to plan your exit from him with due care because your safety is of paramount importance.

There are no issues on safety, he's not violent and never has been. Can be very verbally abusive though

OP posts:
Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 16:50

AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/07/2026 16:38

I would contact Womens Aid as you are in an abusive relationship with him. If you can go to Boots and ask for ANI (pronounced Annie) the staff will direct you to domestic abuse support services.

I note without much surprise he is threatening to kill himself if you were to leave. He could not give a shiny shit about you or his children even though he continues to wield and otherwise bang on about this one night stand you had. A one night stand that he has weaponised against you. It’s an empty threat to kill
himself but it is designed to keep you there. Its working because you remain there. He is a master manipulator and you’ve been played this entire time.

He is also financially abusive and I would readily assume you try and make ends meet at your own expense. When was the last time for instance you bought some new clothes for you, had a haircut, dental appointment or visited the optician?. It’s basically one rule for him ie he can do what he likes whilst another for you ie be his good domestic slave and live in the gilded cage of his own paranoid making.

It looks like you met him when you were very
young yourself and in a bad place. He’s played on your youth to his advantage and stole that from you. He targeted you deliberately to abuse you.

I would also think your kids cannot abide him at all given his attitude. All he cares about is him; not you and certainly not his children.

Yes the children can see he is an arse. I am in no way choosing to stay because I want to. My circumstances are difficult as I say no family support, very little money, and also a fear of the future really as know no different. I struggle with my mental health from time to time

OP posts:
TisEye · 20/07/2026 16:52

OP if you do what you always did, you'll get what you always got.
You have a whole lifetime ahead of you and you get to be the main character in your own life.

Get angry.

Tell him you're bored of his bullshit. He's tight fisted and emotionally immature and you're sick of watching him giving cash to friends when you're subsidising his life, paying for his clothes, home and food when he contributes nothing? That's not how a grown man behaves, that's embarrassing.

Don't be sad or try and placate him. Get really fucking angry that he's sucked up your 20's being distinctly average and making no effort to build a better life for his family.

Ignore the manipulative bullshit about topping himself - if he threatens it, call an ambulance because he needs help. Tell him if he loves you so much he'll change and start seeing you as his equal not his housekeeper and he can start by looking after the kids this weekend.

You've got to change your approach & stop swallowing his bullshit.

category12 · 20/07/2026 16:54

Your MH would probably improve without this man bullying you and exploiting you.

As for money, would you be entitled to any UC top-up as a sole parent?

He would be expected to pay child maintenance although if self-employed he might try to avoid it.

Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 16:55

category12 · 20/07/2026 16:38

Oh OK, I can see what's in it for him in this relationship, £500 is probably like less than a third of household costs plus he gets everything done for him.

Not sure what you get out of it other than more work and being treated like crap.

Not a great deal. Someone to take the little one off my hands when I need 5 i think 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 16:56

category12 · 20/07/2026 16:54

Your MH would probably improve without this man bullying you and exploiting you.

As for money, would you be entitled to any UC top-up as a sole parent?

He would be expected to pay child maintenance although if self-employed he might try to avoid it.

Yes would be entitled to UC i think

OP posts:
WelshRabBite · 20/07/2026 17:05

Essentially you are a Tradwife without the legal protections of marriage.

People ask where all the 40-something Tradwives are extolling the virtues of Tradwife life and they’re all like you, trapped financially and bored shitless with the mind numbing monotony of housework and childcare and a “partner” who thinks none of that stuff is his responsibility.

Make an exit plan to leave. You’re only in your 30s, you really don’t want to waste the rest of your life cleaning up after a lazy-arsed man.

I know it’s easier said than done, but build up your working hours if you can and try to save some money so you can move away from him and start actually living.

category12 · 20/07/2026 17:09

Well, he hardly gives you any money towards the household, he just makes work for you at home, he does nothing for the kids. You'd be entitled to UC if you were on your own.

I'm not seeing any downsides to getting rid of him, tbh.

You might have more money as you wouldn't be subsidising him and feeding him, you wouldn't have to pick up after him, and you wouldn't have to get verbally abused and denigrated by him.

Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 17:21

TisEye · 20/07/2026 16:52

OP if you do what you always did, you'll get what you always got.
You have a whole lifetime ahead of you and you get to be the main character in your own life.

Get angry.

Tell him you're bored of his bullshit. He's tight fisted and emotionally immature and you're sick of watching him giving cash to friends when you're subsidising his life, paying for his clothes, home and food when he contributes nothing? That's not how a grown man behaves, that's embarrassing.

Don't be sad or try and placate him. Get really fucking angry that he's sucked up your 20's being distinctly average and making no effort to build a better life for his family.

Ignore the manipulative bullshit about topping himself - if he threatens it, call an ambulance because he needs help. Tell him if he loves you so much he'll change and start seeing you as his equal not his housekeeper and he can start by looking after the kids this weekend.

You've got to change your approach & stop swallowing his bullshit.

I tried this a few weeks ago, maybe not enough 🤦‍♀️ I was absolutely adamant this was it. I absolutely know I shouldn't be putting up with it. But he wont leave or accept how i feel

OP posts:
Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 17:21

I tried this a few weeks ago, maybe not enough 🤦‍♀️ I was absolutely adamant this was it. I absolutely know I shouldn't be putting up with it. But he wont leave or accept how i feel

OP posts:
Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 17:25

There are many more things I could add to this but fear of being identified i wont go into it. Without sounding like I'm blowing my own trumpet I do get called attractive alot, take care of myself and it frustrates me knowing I could find someone while I'm still young and finally be happy. Probably being laughed at stating what I'm letting myself put up with. Just dont know how to get out of it

OP posts:
Pinkissmart · 20/07/2026 17:32

The £500 he gives you, is the meant to cover rent too?

Sugarplum5 · 20/07/2026 17:38

Pinkissmart · 20/07/2026 17:32

The £500 he gives you, is the meant to cover rent too?

Yes

OP posts:
category12 · 20/07/2026 17:49

He's financially and emotionally abusive, OP.

You could speak to Women's Aid or local domestic abuse services about how to get out.

Is your home private rental or social housing? If the latter, your HA have a duty of care to you and may be able to help.

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